Mohamed Salah (L) of Liverpool celebrates after scoring a goal in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first-leg game against RB Leipzig at Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary, February 16, 2021. /CFP
Liverpool are in the midst of a historic slump. Since January 31 this year, in the Premier League they have been in free fall, dropping from 4th place to 8th. Along the way, they have lost a record breaking six times at Anfield and the high flying front three of Mo Salah, Robert Firmino and Sadio Mane haven't scored from open play since December.
And they are 2-0 up with the away goal advantage against Germany's second-best team right now, Red Bull (RB) Leipzig.
It's hard to explain why: Liverpool are an emotional team and have a reputation for over-performing when it comes to playing against European competition. The difference is this year the gap between their domestic form and Champions League form is so vast that is almost can't be explained.
In the Premier League, they are sluggish, easy to counter and so savaged by injuries that they regularly field makeshift squads. This was still true in the Group Stage and in the first leg of the Round of 16 against RB Leipzig, and yet they get the wins they need.
Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrates after scoring a goal in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first-leg game against RB Leipzig at Puskas Arena, February 16, 2021. /CFP
This miracle is a touch less impressive when viewed in minutia. Salah and Mane's goals came from glaring mistakes by the Leipzig defense that offered up simple one-on-ones with keeper Peter Gulacsi.
It suggests that in the Liverpool home game, Jurgen Klopp will be relying on Leipzig to make more errors. That hope is actually closer to a wish for a miracle as opposing manager, Julian Nagelsmann, has yet to lose twice to a team this season. When RB Leipzig were routed 5-0 by Manchester United in the Group Stage, he went back to the drawing board and they won the return leg 3-2 – one of those United goals was an own goal – playing a different formation.
He's very technically minded and known for his pragmatism meaning he will have gone over the Liverpool loss a million times and come up with a set of tactics to counter everything the Redmen showed then and since.
Leipzig should win and Liverpool may let them. To progress Leipzig have to score three and, even in their weakened state, Liverpool haven't done that without countering with a goal of their own. Nagelsmann has given his team a mountain to climb and Klopp may ensure it's Mount Qomolangma.